Article I of the Constitution establishes the legislative or law
making branch of government with the formation of a bicameral
Congress. This system provides checks
and balances within the legislative branch.

Only after much debate did the Founding Fathers
agree on the creation of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
A major issue was how representation in the legislative body would be
determined. Delegates to the Constitutional Convention from larger and
more populated states argued for the Virginia Plan that called for congressional
representation should be based on a state's population. Fearing domination,
delegates from smaller states were just as adamant for equal representation
and supported the New Jersey Plan. Roger Sherman, a delegate from Connecticut,
proposed the bicameral legislature. The Great Compromise, among other
provisions, resulted in the creation of two houses, with representation
based on population in one and with equal representation in the other.

Members of Congress are now elected by a direct
vote of the people of the state they represent. It has not always been
this way for the Senate. Prior to 1913 and the 17th Amendment
to the Constitution, Senators were chosen by their state legislatures
because the Senate was viewed as representative of state governments,
not of the people. It was the responsibility of Senators to ensure that
their state was treated equally in legislation.

Agencies that provide support services for the
Congress are also part of the legislative branch. These include the
Government Printing Office (GPO), the Library of Congress (LC), the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Government Accountability Office (GAO),
and the Architect of the Capitol.